Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Financial Year 2019/2020

113 million 41 thousand 410 dollars and a development budget of 8 million 64 thousand 80 dollars have been allocated for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Financial Year 2019/2020. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs in his deliberations on the ministry's budget shared the foreign policy and role after reaching independence. According to Yang Berhormat, Brunei Darussalam currently has fostered bilateral diplomatic relations with 170 friendly nations. Yang Berhormat stressed on the importance of diplomatic relations with friendly nations especially in enhancing internal capabilities through bilateral cooperation that brings about long term benefits and mutual interests.

Yang Berhormat said that the ministry also plays a role as an extension of government agencies outside the country through Brunei Darussalam diplomatic offices such as efforts in promoting local products, trade and investment opportunities as well as obtaining detailed information which may be beneficial to any relevant agencies. This is in line with the Whole of Nation Approach specifically towards realising Wawasan Brunei 2035.

Yang Berhormat also touched on the role that is rarely given attention which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' role in consular affairs which involves assistance to the country's citizens who are experiencing emergencies overseas. Yang Berhormat said that the government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam takes seriously the peace and security of its citizens, locally or overseas. In this regard, the diplomatic offices are ready to provide temporary assistance when the country's citizens who are abroad experience emergency situations such as occurrence of earthquakes or accidents. Temporary assistance means until family members are able to provide further assistance. It is also to enable the diplomatic offices to identify whether the country's citizens involved or who are at the occurrence locations will require the latest information which can only be obtained if the individual has provided early information through e-registration. This is provided in the Ministry's homepage. This information is required to enable the diplomatic offices to act immediately in handling the individual's emergency situation.

As the country Brunei is among world’s richest countries of the world, so you can think of its high profile news industry, which is being led by none other than the “Brunei Tribune”, which is the prominent online news website not only in the country but also in the Asean region with having its strong presence in the international media as well.